They say slow and steady wins the race, which is just the case for one food science alumnus who took her time completing her degree and remained faithful to her passion. Danielle Conover, a 2014 Kansas State University food science and industry graduate recently proved that her extensive food science education was well worth the time and effort as Dr Pepper Snapple Group has just launched the very first product that she helped develop.

Conover first started at K-State as a bakery science major, then moved to chemistry and finally stopped at food science and industry, where she found her match.

“I heard about food science from a friend,” Conover said. “It was an ideal field of study for me as it combined my passion for food and my interest in science.”

During her fifth year at K-State, Conover worked as a student-to-student recruiter for the Food Science Institute and also participated on the RCA Product Development Competition Team.

“I really enjoyed my experience in the food science program,” Conover noted. “I enjoyed the smaller classes as they allowed me to get know my fellow classmates, and I loved being in the College of Agriculture. I felt that faculty really went above and beyond and truly showed they cared about their students and their future success.”

After completing her undergrad degree at K-State, Conover went on to pursue a master’s degree in food science at the University of Arkansas. Though she loved the required coursework of her undergrad, Conover admits she was caught off guard when she started grad school initially.

“In graduate school, the focus changes quite a bit,” Conover remarked. “The research becomes a much higher priority than the coursework. I think graduate school gave me a really good foundation for product development; it taught me how to ask more questions and gave me experience managing a long term project while also juggling multiple other smaller projects.”

During her studies, Conover completed two summer internships with Land O’ Lakes, one in quality assurance and one in product development. Both internships involved working on the Kozy Shack pudding brand. In her final semester of grad school, Conover was able to intern with Tyson Foods in quality assurance at one of their plants in Springdale, Arkansas.

“The internship experiences were incredibly valuable to me,” Conover noted. “The skills and knowledge gained throughout each internship as well as exposure to different team dynamics and work environments gave me a lot of insight into what I wanted in a position and in a company.”

Currently, Conover works as a Senior Associate Scientist at Dr Pepper Snapple Group. She loves going to work each day because she’s surrounded by great people and an ambitious, encouraging environment.

“I wanted a job where there would be constant opportunities and challenges to ensure that I kept growing in my career and skills,” Conover mentioned. “I also wanted a job which allowed me a mix of work environments such as time developing on the bench, time in plants, time at my desk and having lots of contact with others. The amazing product portfolio full of brands I had loved since I was a kid was really the icing on the cake!”

She’s definitely proven her growth from her time working at Dr Pepper Snapple Group, as the company has just launched a product that she helped develop, Mott’s Sensibles. The product is available in three flavors: Apple Raspberry, Apple Cranberry and Apple Pineapple and is 100 percent juice and contains 30 percent less sugar than apple juice. To reduce the sugar, the cross-functional Sensibles team decided to add coconut water and vegetable juices, which are naturally a lower Brix value.

“This product was a lot of fun partially because it was so challenging,” Conover mentioned. “As a product developer, your number one focus is always the taste of the product, but there are many different pieces of the puzzle that you have to balance. These include product stability, product, cost, product appearance, etc. I spent a lot of time working with vendors and trying out different vegetable juices to find the optimum combination to maximize taste, appearance and cost of the final product. I am very proud of the final product, and happy to announce it is available nationwide!”

An internally motivated person always, Conover has further developed both her technical and leadership skills. She strives to continue to be her best, work hard, continue learning and be proud of the work she is accomplishing. In the future, Conover hopes to be open to opportunities that push her outside of her comfort zone while at the same time, allow her to stay true to herself.

Through an international study abroad journey from China to the United States, PhD student, Ziyi Linghu discovered her passion for food science and industry and fatefully made her way to Kansas State University. Originally from Shanghai, China, Linghu focused her schooling around biochemistry and technology. It wasn’t until she studied at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities for her master’s degree that she realized she was missing out on a whole new world that interested her: food science and industry.

“My roommate was an undergrad food science student,” Linghu said. “She drew me in very quickly. I started attending tons of seminars and events that promoted food science and industry.”

In fact, it was at one of these events that Linghu got connected with K-State. During her attendence at an IFT conference, Linghu crossed paths with Dr. J. Scott. Smith, where they had a lengthy discussion about her passion for chemistry.

“Dr. Smith was amazing,” Linghu remarked. “He told me to submit an application at K-State for the PhD program, so I did. I remember later on, I emailed him, worried if he would remember me or not. Luckily, he said he remembered me exactly!”

It wasn’t long after her interaction with Dr. Smith that Linghu landed in Manhattan, Kansas at the doors of The Food Science Institute in 2014.

“My first year here was really hard,” Linghu commented. “I didn’t have any friends, and it was an adjustment time for me. But it quickly changed. The other graduate students are super friendly, and we all help each other out. Dr. Smith is really great too; he always invites us over or has little parties at his house.”

For the last seven months, Linghu spent her time in Battle Creek, Michigan interning with Kellogg’s as a food chemist, a position she described as an amazing experience. Last fall, Kellogg’s made the visit to K-State to seek potential employees and interns.

“They hired me due to my strong background in food chemistry,” Linghu mentioned. “They asked me what kind of technology and equipment I had experience using; luckily, K-State uses the same stuff as they do, so it worked out perfectly. I hope to go back to Kellogg’s in the future, but I’m still very open to other places. I have my list; Kellog’s is at the top.”

Currently, Linghu is researching food chemistry and toxicology, specifically food carcinogens in cooked meat. Why is it being formed in meat, and how can we alter food ingredients to reduce food carcinogens? Linghu spends much of her time finding strategies to reduce the formation in cooked meats.

“I enjoy my research because it is a meaningful project,” Linghu stated. “I get to display the information I find to the people – something that is important to public health.”

Beyond her research studies, Linghu has teamed with master’s student, Yuda Ou, to compete in a food science competition regarding food marketing in China. The goal of the competition is to launch an innovative food product that fits the healthy snack trend. Additionally, Linghu is a member of the food science club and acts as a coach for the K-State graduate school research forum.

Her teammate Yuda Ou believes that Linghu is a very talented and goal oriented team player.

“She understands how to combine her in-depth food science knowledge in the current food market trends in an innovative way to create a unique product,” Ou said.

Despite her busy schedule and packed-on extracurriculars, Linghu finds time to relax and unwind doing the things she loves.

It’s certainly clear from Linghu’s classmates and superiors that she is an outstanding individual in the K-State food science community. Because of her, others are motivated to learn more, do more and think more creatively about food science and industry. We are eager to witness the amazing things Ziyi Linghu will complete in her upcoming years.

In my half hour spent getting to know freshman student, Wyatt Williams, it was clear to me the high level of ambition and excellence he puts forth in everything he pursues. Williams, originally from Wamego, Kansas, is a food science and industry/pre-med student who is highly involved around campus. Though always interested in the medical industry, he was unsure what to do for his undergraduate degree.

“I knew I wanted pre-med, but I wasn’t sure what my major should be,” Williams mentioned. “My neighbor growing up was the Assistant Dean of the College of Agriculture, Dr. Christine Wilson,” Williams said. “She encouraged me to look at the food science and industry program at K-State.”

His journey began last year when he privately visited the Food Science Institute with his father, Chris Williams, who played a role in the startup of the lab in his time with the Kansas Department of Commerce. After speaking with Dr. Fadi Aramouni, Williams was convinced that food science and industry was exactly what he wanted to do.

“Dr. A sold me,” Williams commented. “There’s lots to do in food science and the job placement is really good. Food science sets me apart from a lot of other students applying to med school with similar majors such as, biology or kinesiology. Not many can say they majored in food science.”

An honest and thorough conversation between the two resulted in an offer from Dr. Aramouni for Williams to work in his lab as an assistant.

“I knew after talking with Dr. Aramouni how serious he is,” Williams mentioned. “He looks for students with big aspirations.”

Since the fall, Williams has worked on numerous projects in Dr. Aramouni’s lab alongside a select group of other students: Haley Davis, Samantha Fischer, McKenna Mills and Alex Sevart. Some of his first projects involved assisting in the development of a Korean nut tea and making labels for a small soda company in Missouri. Currently, he is getting ready to help in the development of non-alcoholic versions of popular alcoholic beverages for a different client. Williams delivers many hours of work in the lab and it certainly doesn’t go without notice.

“Wyatt is an amazing individual and an outstanding student,” Dr. Aramouni stated. “He approaches his job with a sense of responsibility and accountability. This attitude coupled with his friendly personality, his punctuality and his can-do attitude makes his an excellent worker that I have come to rely on a lot in our Kansas Value-Added Foods Lab. I feel so lucky to have him on my team!”

Though his weeks are consumed with classes and lab work, Williams still seeks additional time to be involved with other organizations at K-State and in the community. Last semester he aided in the production of the Call Hall Dairy Bar in the student union and worked there as one of the store’s first employees. He also tutors students for the ACT through a company in Manhattan called Power Prep and serves as the recruitment and social chair in his fraternity, Alpha Kappa Lambda. He’s truly a man devoted to helping others.

The few moments Williams is able to catch a break, he enjoys being outdoors.

“I like to hunt and fish a lot,” Williams mentioned. “Half of my baby pictures, I’m hanging out with my dad after a hunting trip. My favorite place to go is Saskatchewan, Canada.”

Williams has undoubtedly shown his commitment to the development of his education as well as the development of others. The Food Science Institute feels truly honored to have him and is eager to see all that he will accomplish in his upcoming years at K-State.

We’re almost halfway through the semester, but things are just starting to heat up for the food science club this spring. Just right around the corner on April 7 will be the all-university open house. This year, the food science club will be hosting numerous interactive stations for guests to learn, engage and participate in. For starters, our food science club will be inviting visitors to stop by Call Hall 156 to partake in a sensory taste test. Those who complete the test will receive a raffle ticket and be entered to win for a prize.

Other agenda items include a product development station, a recruitment station and many fun experiments for kids and families to perform together. This year we will host our classic corn starch slime project as well as a germ experiment using hand sanitizer and UV light. The day will be a fun time for visitors to branch off an explore the many areas of food science.

Another exciting event coming up for the food science club is the College Bowl Regional Competition. The event will take place in Columbia, Missouri on April 13-14. Our food science team has eight students competing this year: Nathaniel Brown, Ziyi Linghu, Yuda Ou, Mostafa Taghvaei, Bade Tonyali, Priyamuada Thorakkattu, Bennett Uhl and Wei Wu.

The questions relate to food science trivia including topics such as food science and technology, food processing, food law and more. Our group will compete against six or seven other universities in the region, and the winning teams will go on to compete in the Annual Meeting. All finalists receive a $100 travel grant. The national champion earns a $1000 award, and the runner-up a $750 award. “Yuda and I are coaching the team together,” Mostafa Taghvaei noted. “Our hope is to encourage students to learn more about Food Science during preparation for this fun competition.” The team meets weekly to practice with Quiz Bowl-type questions. Team member, Bennett Uhl commented, “I am really looking forward to representing K-State at a contest for knowledge of food and food science.” The team will continue to work hard to prepare for the competition in the upcoming weeks, and we look forward to see how far they will make it in the competition. Good luck students!

Nothing seems to hold back these food science students from doing what they love. Graduate students, Yuda Ou, Karthik Sajith Babu and Priyamvada Thorakkattu decided to compete in this year’s National Dairy Council (NDC) Competition and have already experienced exciting results. Last week, the group received news that their product proposal had been selected to be in the top six and will be further reviewed in the next step of the competition.

This year the 2018 NDC competition has one major challenge: “Develop a Dairy-Based Snack that Answers the Evolving Needs of Today’s Snacking Consumer.” Today, modern snacking has three main elements. According to the National Dairy Council, they are:

The next leg of the competition requires each group to submit a full project report on April 2 that will be reviewed by a panel of judges selected by the NDC. Following the report, each group must send enough of their product for 18 servings as well as storage, preparation and serving instructions by April 19 to be reviewed. Finally, the groups will present via webinar on April 25 for final judging. Each group will present and respond to questions of the judges for 15-25 minutes maximum. The top three winners will be announced at the end of the day; however, the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd placings will not be announced until June 24-27th in Knoxville, TN at the American Dairy Science Association Annual Meeting. The first place winning group will receive $8,000 followed by second place at $5,000 and a third place prize at $3,000.

Luckily for our K-State competitors, two group members have had experience in the NDC competition in the past. Yuda Ou participated in the competition in 2016, and the team was selected to be in the top six finalists. Karthik Sajith Babu participated in the 2017 competition, and their team was placed 2nd in the final. This year the two have teamed with an additional graduate student, Priyamvada Thorakkattu to compete in hopes of taking first place. Dr. Jayendra Amamcharla is the team’s advisor.

Congratulations to these K-State food science students. We wish you the best of luck throughout the rest of the competition.

This past December, the Food Science Club took part in a gift exchange called the Festive Foodie Event. This special holiday arrangement was coordinated by Elizabeth Brown, a member at large of the Institute of Food Technologists Student Association (IFTSA) Board of Directors. The event included each chapter of the Institute of Food Technologists Student Association (IFTSA) that wished to participate. Each chapter was given a maximum spending budget for the gift exchange and randomly assigned another food science club to exchange with. At the end, each group was encouraged to document the opening of their gifts with photos and video.

Our K-State Food Science Club was greatly surprised by the contents of their gift exchange. They group received their package from Middle Eastern Technical University in Ankara, Turkey.

“The gift was beyond thoughtful and generous,” Christine Rock, president of K-State’s Food Science Club noted.

The package included postcards with images of beautiful and notable Turkish sights, a sweet note written by members of the Turkish chapter, and a surplus of fun Turkish snacks and treatswhich included descriptions and explanations of their significance. Notable items included Turkish coffee and Turkish delights -yum!

“We were taken aback by the kindness of our fellow Food Science Club chapter,” Christine commented. The club had no idea where their gift was coming from until it arrived here at K-State.

Christine wants to encourage future food science club officers to participate in this event in the years to come. However, the club agreed that they’d wished to see videos or pictures of other chapters opening their gifts. Overall, it was a gift they’d remember forever.

Christine concluded, “It was an awesome chance to connect with other students, around the world in our case, through food and the holiday, gift giving season.”

Last week, a group of our food science friends and colleagues took the amazing opportunity to travel to San Francisco, California to visit the Winter Fancy Food Show. This three-day event welcomed 30,000+ industry professionals, tastemakers, and guests to network, learn and of course, eat! Our Kansas State University food science group got to venture through 80,000+ specialty food and beverage vendors, plus an additional 1,400+ exhibitors from around the world.

The Fancy Food Show is operated by the Specialty Food Association (SFA), a membership-based trade association that currently represents 3,500+ businesses that works to “Shape the Future of Food.” The SFA members are highly involved in specialty food trade and own and conduct the Summer and Winter Fancy Food Shows.

Nine students from the food science club attended the trip to San Francisco last week: Christine Rock, Karen Magana-Moran, Alicia Walker, Amanda Winegard, Conrad Kabus, Jentry Scherer, Kayla Daniel, Xinwei Xu, Bennett Uhl, and program assistant, Elsa Croft. The students agreed they all absorbed a lot of knowledge at the show and said it was a great event. The event made for a great place to network and build connections for future employment.

They learned so much within the short three days they were there, including how to really taste olive oil. A vendor gave the group a quick taste class while they visited the show. Additionally, the group learned about different types of wines and tasted endless amounts of food and beverage – a very filling experience!

Our food science students spent four hours each day at the show then spent their afternoons as tourists exploring the city. They visited The Golden Gate Bridge, Lombard Street, Fisherman’s Wharf, China Town, Ghiradelli Square, and The Three Sisters. They dined at Boudin’s, Z&Y Restaurant, and La Taqueria, a traditional Mexican joint with amazing burritos. Though their exploration was extensive, one of their favorite memories of all was watching the sea lions play on the pier.

“I thought the trip to San Francisco was excellent,” Amanda Winegard said. “It was very neat to see all the latest food trends from around the world. It is a trip I would recommend to go on.”

Needless to say, the trip was time and money well spent. Food science students, take advantage of all the opportunities you get while studying in college; the experience will last a lifetime! If you weren’t able to attend the Winter Fancy Food Show last week, but still want to go, you can look forward to the upcoming Summer Fancy Food Show in New York City beginning on June 30.

Welcome back, students! We missed you here at the Food Science Institute! Spring semester has quickly approached us, and we want to help prepare you for maximum success during this term. The Food Science Institute offers various resources to aid students in their academic development at a lower cost. Our student resource center includes:

Textbooks

The Food Science Institute Office has a collection of food science textbooks readily available for students to check out for the semester. The program is designed to be a “gift that keeps on giving” in a time when textbooks prices continue to rise. The textbooks are reused by many over several semesters, as opposed to direct one-time scholarship awards. The books can be checked out from day to day or overnight, but obtainment comes on first-come first-served basis.

Computers and Printers

For last minute assignments and projects, food science students have the opportunity to use the computers and printers in the office at 216 Call Hall without having to make the trek across campus to the library.

Study Spots

Our campus offers plenty of great spots to sit down, unwind and grind. The Food Science Institute welcomes students to use the Fountaine Reading Room Library to study without disturbances. The library houses a collection of textbooks, magazines, journals and more to assist students in their projects and class papers.

Additional great study spots include Hale Library, with various floors for specific study and learning purposes. Hale Library also encloses a Media Development Center created for video editing, 3D printing, producing CDs and DVDs, scanning and editing images, developing webpages, creating audio recordings, and more. Students are free to use the lab during any of its operating hours for academic or personal projects.

The K-State Student Union also has an immensity of resources for student use. Whether hungry, tired, studious or in the mood to socialize, the student union can meet your needs with over eight different places to eat, an overhead projector for movies and news, countless study booths, a bowling and game center in the basement and even an art gallery to browse through during passing periods.

Tutoring

Don’t fret if you’re falling behind in a class! K-State offers flexible tutoring services to all students no matter the course or content. The Academic Achievement Center provides walk-in or one-on-one scheduled tutoring and even academic coaching in case you are questioning what path you want to take or what subject you want to study.

On December 16-23rd, 2017 Dr. Aramouni was a volunteer with the United-Nations Development Program (UNDP) in his native Lebanon and provided Food Safety Preventive Control (FSPC) training in English, French, and Arabic to food professionals to help them comply with FDA regulations for Foreign Supplier Verification under the new Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).

Forty-five people from various companies that export food to the U.S., along with government food inspectors, received the Preventive Control Qualified Individual (PCQI) certification. Dr. Aramouni will travel back to the Middle East this Summer for 4 additional projects:

1) To provide Train the Trainer food safety sessions to UN personnel working in Syrian refugee camps in cooperation with the Italian Barilla Pasta company and the UNDP.

2) To review the newly developed Bachelor of Science program in Food Safety at Notre-Dame University (NDU Louize) in Lebanon with USAID/Land-O-Lakes

3) To Provide Food Product Development workshops with the Lebanese Food Industry Association

4) To provide training on new FDA labeling regulations and additional FSPC workshops with various consulting groups

An early seven a.m. cardio workout before class is a normal everyday routine for four food science students. In fact, they also attend weight training every afternoon. Taylor Flowers, Cassidy Haufler, Samantha Samskey and Johari Snell are all teammates on the women’s rowing team who balance their busy schedules between school and sports and have a significant interest in food science.

This season the women have participated in two fall races that took place in October. At the Head of the Oklahoma Race in Oklahoma City, their boat placed 8th out of 24 boats, and at the Jayhawk Jamboree in Lawrence, their boat took 10th out of 22 boats. Their remaining season will resume in April after the winter months pass, but their training will continue regardless of the weather.

Two seniors on the team, Sam Samskey and Taylor Flowers both declared a food science major after taking Dr. Phebus‘ Introduction to Food Science class. Samskey changed from animal science, and Flowers was previously undeclared. From their underclassmen years to now, these two have been living a near identical schedule between rowing practice, class, labs and races; but both agree that their contribution to the rowing team has been well worth the hard work.

“Rowing is such a mental sport,” Flowers added. “It’s made me mentally be able to focus and set tasks aside and know when to do things. Mind over matter, no matter what.”

As seniors, Flowers and Samskey now have to act responsibly as leaders to the younger girls on their team and show a good example.

“Rowing is definitely overwhelming at first,” Samskey said.

“60 girls come in, you’re all there and no one knows what they’re doing,” Flowers added. “We were scared. But you pick up fast. Coach will come in and say, ‘you need to improve, someone will take your spot, things like that. It’s very competitive.”

Flowers and Samskey have learned to take that ambitious attitude from sports and apply it to their academic career as well. Flowers and Samskey are diligent students who both are in the process of figuring out the next step after graduation.

“I like being in the lab and learning the science behind all the food,” Flowers explained.

“I like the dairy side of things. I’m not sure what I want to do with my degree after college right now, but I’m currently looking for an internship,” Samskey noted. “It’s hard to leave when all the professors are great. Dr. Schmidt is always so upbeat and excited to teach everyday.”

“Yes, all the professors are great,” Flowers added. “They know what they’re talking about and they’re all very passionate. They really care about what they teach.”

The Food Science Institute is grateful for all of the girls’ hard work and contribution throughout their time at K-State. The rowing women are strongly committed to the success of their athletic and academic careers, and we wish them the best in their futures!

Well… there’s no getting around it; the time of year that we’ve all been dreading this semester has quickly approached us – finals. For most students, final exam week is a stressful period that creeps up way too fast leaving little to no time for preparation or rest. However, there are some tricks that can help alleviate some stress and anxiety.

Get Some Rest

A good night’s sleep will help you retain information longer and do well on your exams. Studies show that rapid-eye movement or REM sleep aids memory and thought process. Remember to take naps too! A twenty-minute power nap can help boost your alertness and physical stamina.

Change up Your Study Spot

Instead of studying in the same room over and over again, adventure to a new spot around town with a different atmosphere. A study referenced by the New York Times, found that alternating study spots improves retention.

DE-STRESS STATION: Coloring pages and pencils, Sudoku, word searches, and more located near Library Help!

Divide it Up

Instead of spending hours cramming for your exams, divide your time up and give yourself a break. Study in 20-50 minute increments with 5-10 minute breaks in between. Managing your time will also help relieve stress and anxiety.

Move It!

Take a break and get some exercise. Research at Columbia University found that physical activity promotes neurogenesis (creation of new brain cells) and overall increases brain performance. It’s also a great way to wake you up when you feel tired from studying too long. The K-State Rec Center offers a diverse range of workout opportunities for people of all interests. Manhattan has also recently adopted a new yoga center in Aggieville called, Orange Sky Yoga, giving students the chance to come relax and de-stress in any of their numerous classes.

Whether he’s running for the K-State track team or studying at Call Hall as a food science student, Rene Perla truly works hard at everything he does. As a K-State athlete, Rene currently dedicates 20 hours of his week to track practice and soon will be dedicating even more time when the spring season arrives and traveling for the sport begins. Although he works around a busy schedule, Rene finds gratitude for the challenges he faces along the way.

“Push yourself as much as you can,” Rene said. “That’s what I like to live by. I don’t like failure, but I know that sometimes I need it in order to learn.”

This motto definitely influenced decisions in Rene’s life prior to coming to K-State.

“I grew up in Central America,” Rene said. “My parents have a water bottle business, and they always pushed my sisters and I to go after our dreams and choose good industries to work in when we got older. I studied food science back home for a year until I realized that there were schools with better food science programs for me. So I came to Kansas State University.”

Now a junior in food science, Rene is trying to figure out what part of food science he likes best.

Although he hasn’t determined a concentration, Rene still plans to attend graduate school in the future.

“I’m thinking either Purdue or Penn State. Maybe even K-State. Dr. Getty has been a great help in making decisions and giving advice as to where to go, what to do and what big role I want to pursue in a career path.”

Rene’s dedication to learning and sports certainly leaves an impression on those around him.

“I have been impressed with his interest in food science and his efforts to succeed in the class and on the track field,” Dr. Kelly Getty comments. “He’s always looking for new opportunities within food science. I look forward to watching him progress and make an impact in the food industry and his community.”

Keep an eye out for Rene this upcoming spring as he competes in the 400 meter hurdles!

This week is the first ever Science Communication Week at K-State, and a whole line up of events will be in action throughout the week for students to attend and participate in. The schedule includes a research colloquium, a presentation with National Geographic photographer, Jim Richardson, a library scholarship expo, a Science Café presentation with The Scientific Research Society’s Michael Veenan and a USDA-ARS Center for Grain and Animal Health Research Open House.

The week is centered around The Kansas Science Communication Initiative or KSCI. This action seeks to engage communities to understand, promote and actively participate in science and research. One major role in achieving this goal is to simply build the bridge between the arts and science. This partnership allows scientists and communicators to work collaboratively on ways to explain the work conducted by researchers and scientists to different audiences. Additionally, it will work to connect researchers with K-12 teachers, informal education institutions, and other citizen groups to engage publics in new scientific studies and opportunities. The KSCI also hopes to produce effective content for mass communication channels.

As a large contributor to science and research at K-State, the Food Science Institute will be participating this week and invites food science students to join in on some of these events. Dr. Valentina Trinetta, Assistant Professor will be presenting about food microbiology art at the library scholarship expo. She, along with four students, Gabriela Magossi, Chloe Shearon, Bethany Herl and Caroline Peters will explain how bacteria, yeasts, molds and other microbes are associated with foods and food processing.

“I think that a lot of times scientists get trapped in their labs with formulas and reactions,” Dr. Trinetta said. “Sharing information with the public is therefore, slow and difficult. Integrating scientific results with communication is fundamental to give a stronger understanding of the current research and moreover, increase science relevance in society.”

The library scholarship expo will be held at Hale Library on Tuesday, Nov. 7 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Come visit with Dr. Trinetta as well as tons of other science leaders to learn what research and practices are being conducted.

It’s not common to find a job after college that will allow you take your dog to work every day. Luckily for Nigel Harper, he found a job that does; in fact, his company encourages it!

Nigel Harper, a former K-State food science grad, returned to the university in September with his colleague, Melissa Weber, for the Fall Career Fair. Nigel represents his company, Mars Petcare, where his daily job involves wearing the hat of a product scientist, an engineer, a marketing associate and a quality scientist every day.

“I wouldn’t really say that there is an average work day at Mars Petcare,” Nigel said, “and that is what is exciting about it. I carry between two to five projects at a time, and they range from new innovations that we are launching to continuous improvement work that we do to make our products more efficiently.”

Although Nigel loves his job, he admits it can be very challenging at times.

“When it comes to testing products that you are developing, you always want feedback from your consumers,” Nigel explains. “Well, our consumers “bark” and “purr” so getting verbal descriptions of the product are not straightforward.”

Fortunately, Nigel and the crew at Mars Petcare work alongside many brilliant scientists that study the cues that animals can give, as well as what pet owners love about Mars products. Nigel even works beside a very close associate, his dog, Darby!

“Darby is actually a former associate at Mars Petcare because I adopted him from our Pet Feeding Center. It’s basically a four star, all-inclusive resort for dogs and cats,” Nigel laughed.

Though he’s submerged in a job that he loves, Nigel acknowledges his earlier years during school of making tough decisions about his future.

“I actually wanted to go to medical school, Nigel confessed. “My father is an optometrist, and medicine has always been a passion of mine. However, I decided not to go because I didn’t like where the careers in medicine are headed. I was looking for a field that could combine my love of nutrition, microbiology, biochemistry and physics; food science was the perfect fit.”

With big decisions like moving 11 hours away from home, committing to a master’s and doctorate degree and accepting his first job out of college, Nigel offers wise advice to current food science students.

“Build a strong network, and stay in contact with your fellow classmates,” Nigel remarks. “Also, take business classes in college to build your business acumen early. That is an area I have had to build on the job. And lastly, be comfortable with discomfort; that’s how you grow as a person. Push yourself past your comfort zone, no matter how scary that seems.”

Bringing ideas to life is what motivates Melissa Weber everyday in her job at Mars Petcare. Melissa lives with a passion for taking consumer insights and developing solutions to unmet consumer needs. Mars Petcare allows her to practice this passion daily and even pushes her to think more creatively.

Although she is happy in her career and current pursuits, Melissa had to push herself to get where she is. Her hard work began here at K-State after she finished her undergrad at The University of Tennessee Martin.

“I grew up with a fascination for Agriculture and knew that I wanted to pursue a career in an agriculture field,” Melissa explained. “I looked into Agricultural Communication, but quickly realized that I had a strong passion for science that was not met in the communications field. My undergraduate advisor recommended graduate study in meat science and pointed me to K-State.”

With minimal experience in food science, Melissa followed this recommendation and left her lifelong home in Tennessee for the great Midwest.

“I quickly grew to the love the field with the complexity that exists in live animal production, conversion of muscle to meat and the development of high quality meat products that are consumer relevant,” Melissa said. She faced some challenges throughout the program too though.

“I had limited experience in meat science and had a lot of catching up to do. I had to study hard, listen and learn from my fellow graduate students and immerse myself in the meat lab to become ‘fluent’ in meat science,” Melissa reflected. “I also learned that research doesn’t always go as planned.”

During her Ph.D. research, a tornado hit Weber Hall, shutting down the meat lab entirely. Melissa had to get creative.

“Thankfully we had industry partners who allowed us to use their facilities to insure my research who be completed. I learned the difference between finding solutions and just identifying problems. There will always be challenges and people who can find ways around those challenges will stand out,” Melissa noted.

This skill has helped Melissa greatly in her career. In a face-paced work industry, one of Melissa’s first standalone projects at Mars Petcare was to bring a new brand to life in just six months.

“An average day is spent working on projects in various stages (some are at ideation, some are in testing and some are being launched) and collaborating with marketing, plants and peers to scope projects and troubleshoot issues,” Melissa explained. “No day is ever the same, so I never get bored!”

Melissa loves her job at Mars Petcare because the family-owned business truly stands behind its five principles to create an environment focused on quality, efficiency, mutuality, responsibility and freedom.

“It’s challenging,” Melissa mentioned. “We have two consumers: pets and pet parents. We have to create complete and balanced meals, and we have to lower tier raw materials to create high quality, highly regulated products. I also get to bring my dog to work!.”

From Pastry Chef to Food Scientist, Mayla Kritski Baez has had a variety of experiences in the food industry. Upon recently graduating in spring 2017 with a bachelors degree in food science, Mayla has proceeded to fulfill the rest of her career dreams. Growing up in Brazil with a family that cherished good food, Mayla had always been interested in food her whole life and knew that working in the food industry would be a passion of hers.

“Our family reunions were always held at the kitchen table around a good cup of coffee and fresh baked pastries,” Mayla said.” She knew food was something she was passionate about and wanted to continue learning about.

“I graduated from Johnson County Community College with an associates degree in culinary arts, a Pastry and Baking and a Sous Chef Certification from the

Mayla worked for her certification as a pastry chef for 715 Restaurant in Lawrence, KS and as a Catering Sous Chef for JCCC in Overland Park, KS.

“I worked for almost three years while finishing my associates degree,” Mayla added. “We were required to have 6,000 hours of kitchen experience in order to be able to take the practical test for the Sous Chef Certification. The American Culinary Federation has a very strict policy regarding their certifications.”

Her hard work paid off though. Mayla now has a position as a food scientist for JBS Beef in Souderton, Pennsylvania, and truly enjoys everything she does.

“Working for JBS is rewarding and very exciting,” Mayla said. “An average day at work for me starts by attending my first meeting at 5:10 a.m. to see what the numbers are for the day. We check the exports orders, the cattle heads that will need to be fabricated; we talk about packaging costs, food safety topics, usually carrying out new implementations for the front and back pack areas, etc. After that, I usually go to the production floor for four and a half hours to check on everybody and make sure everything is in place to start production. I stay in the plant usually from 4:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. until the production department is done. That usually depends on the number of cattle heads. It could range from 1,500 or 2,200 heads per day; every day is different.”

The long days seem to be worth it. Mayla hopes as a food scientist to bring products to the consumer table that can reach proliferation; even items in the beef industry that are on the cusp of becoming a trend.

“Going to culinary school and earning a bachelors in food science helped me to understand the science behind food, how to play with flavors, colors, cooking techniques, food safety and how great is to create new food products,” Mayla explained. “I hope K-State food science students really take advantage of all the opportunity around them. Ask questions, talk with your professor(s), participate in competitions and try to find a mentor to discuss your career goals.”

Last June, Mayla and her team won 2nd place in the 2017 National Dairy Council New Product Competition. Mayla worked alongside two other colleagues, Conrad Kabus(undergraduate, senior in food science) and Karthik Sajith (M.S. graduate student). Their challenge was to develop a dairy beverage that will be the drink of choice for 15-25 year old consumers. The team responded by creating Mate Au Lait Protein Plus. The overall product development was no easy task, but the end result was well worth the hard work. Mayla encourages all students to challenge themselves and participate in as much as possible.

When asked the one thing she would have done differently at K-State if she could go back, Mayla laughed, “I would have had more Call Hall ice creams.”

Growing up in an “international family” made it easy for Karina Desiree to travel to the United States to pursue her college education. Karina grew up in Jakarta, Indonesia her whole life and attended an IB international school that required students to learn English. She always knew she would attend a university in the United States, and although miles away from home, the idea never instilled the slightest bit of fear.

“My uncle attended Ohio State University for his college education, so I already

had someone to talk about international studies with,” Karina said. “My mom also married a retired marine from the United States nine years ago. We have taken frequent vacations to the U.S. to see all the American tourist attractions.”

Before coming to K-State, Karina first completed her undergraduate degree at Purdue University in Indiana. “I was always interested in biology,” Karina explained, “and I wanted to be a doctor. However, in Indonesia they require doctors to complete medical school there, and I wanted to study abroad. So I looked for a more applicable science major. I wanted something less theoretical and more hands-on, and then I found food science. Purdue had a great food science program, and I also knew it was a popular university for Indonesians.”

Karina came straight to K-State after graduating from Purdue last May. She is currently a Food Science graduate student with an emphasis in Food Microbiology under Dr. Jessie Vipham and has been helping out in Dr. Phebus’ labs.

“I chose to come to K-State because of Dr. Vipham and her research,” Karina said. “I knew I liked microbiology, but I didn’t know what exactly I wanted to do with it. When I looked at her research and how it involves developing countries and improving their agriculture, I grew very interested. Cambodia is right there by Indonesia, and I feel like that could be very useful in the future if I decide to go back to Indonesia and work there. I believe I could truly make an impact if I dive into that field and make improvements in my own country.”

Karina has found her new home at K-State to be very comfortable. Although only being here for a month, she has adapted to her surroundings very well.

“I’m used to the college town. Manhattan is a lot smaller than Purdue, but the atmosphere is very similar. It’s very quiet and relaxing here, very suitable for studying. I like it here because I’m easily distracted,” Karina laughed.

When she’s not busy helping out in food science classes, Karina spends her time singing in her church choir and gardening. She even has an impressive succulent collection and names her succulents after microbes! Now THAT is a dedicated student! Welcome to K-State Karina!

Returning to her old stomping grounds, Rachel Pearson, a 2015 K-State graduate traveled back to Manhattan last week in hunt to find the best-fitting students for the posterity of her represented company, Land O’ Lakes.

Rachel began her college career in the pre-veterinary program. It wasn’t until she took Dr. Phebus’Introduction to Food Science class that she noticed a shift in her attention. “I found food science to be a very engaging subject for me,” said Rachel.

“Dr. Phebus’ intro class definitely peaked my interest in food science for sure. I had a follow-up meeting with him shortly after and realized his passion for food science. He quickly revealed the impact and opportunities that food science has,

so I started weighing the factors, advantages and disadvantages. Then I decided that I would have a lot more going for me if I switched over to food science.”

Rachel has been working for Land O’ Lakes for about three years. She first worked for the company during her junior year where they shipped her off to Orland, California for a summer internship.

“I remember one of the first things they asked me during my initial interview was, ‘Are you willing to relocate,'” Rachel mentioned. “And I said, ‘I want to get out of Kansas. I want to see what the world has to offer.” She enjoyed her internship so much that the following summer she accepted another intern position with Land O’ Lakes; this time in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

Rachel now works at the Minnesota Land O’ Lakes branch where she just started her second year in a program called TAP (training).

“It’s a broad training course where you get exposure to the plant. It includes anything from sourcing to environmental health and safety to quality as well as production,” Rachel explained. “You learn how each part of the process plays a role in making the final product.”

Rachel started her first year of the program down in Texas doing feed. Although she loved it, she realized she loved dairy more. She is currently back in R&D butter and spreads team in Minnesota until she finishes training and is relocated to another plant.

“At Land O’ Lakes, you really make your own career,” Rachel stated. “Land O’ Lakes is very supportive if you have an interest. Go for it. That’s why I enjoy coming back to K-State to interview students.

I love talking about Land O’ Lakes and the opportunities within the company and how it plays a part in making the world a better place.”

Rachel interviewed food science students here in Manhattan for two days. She and her colleague, Daniel Coen (KSU Food Science Alumni), really wanted to find those special students whom they know would do well at Land O’ Lakes.

“We want students to feel comfortable during the interview process. It’s more of a get-to-know you process on both sides,” Rachel noted.

“We are looking for someone who has those true values, takes integrity very seriously and is not afraid to get their hands dirty and get the job done. At the same time, we also look for people who really value the impact that Land O’ Lakes has in the world and people who are passionate about making a difference.”

The K-State Career Fair is scheduled for September 19-21, 2017 at Bramlage Coliseum from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and we are so excited for our K-State food science students to show the real world what they are made of! If you haven’t registered, please do so before September 18 by visiting the Career Center in the Berney Family Welcome Center. We know all of you will do extremely well; but just as a reminder, here are a few job interview tips to help you stand out. Good luck students!

Study Up

Before you interview, research the company’s earnings calls, quarterly reports and blog posts. Bring up one of their current projects in your interview to show that you really did your homework and know what they are working on. Express your interest and concern in what they do so that they can see you would be an excellent attribute to their company.

First Impressions are Everything

Employers are busy. Show them that spending their time on you is an investment. Arrive early. Be polite. Extend warm greetings to everyone you meet from the company. Employers want to see that you are intentional and treat others with kindness. Make a strong first impression by dressing appropriately, demonstrating professional body language and speaking with enthusiasm, confidence and positivity.

Craft your Story

Instead of just reading down your resume, think of five things you really want to communicate to the interviewer. What do you want them to remember about you? What makes you stand out? Talk about your past jobs that are most relevant to position you are interviewing for.

Walk the Walk

Have a portfolio already put together with some of your best work samples or project highlights inside. This collection can be physical or digital. Show the employer that you haven’t just recited material that you learned in class, but instead that you have practiced and experienced it firsthand and are ready to use your skills to benefit the company.

Always Thank the Interviewer

Before you interview, have a thank you card already addressed and ready to go in your bag or notebook. After your interview, take five minutes to sit down elsewhere and write a thank you note. Include a few points you talked about in your interview to show the employer that you didn’t pre-write one. Drop it in the mail. Your letter should get to them two or three days after the interview – perfect time to remind them of you and get them thinking about that next point of contact.

After living in Brazil for 22 years, Carla Schwan decided to step out of her comfort zone and step into the United States. Upon finishing two years of her undergraduate degree in Brazil, Carla knew she needed to aim high in order to fulfill the rest of her dreams. “I applied for a program called “Science Without Borders,” said Carla. “It was a government program that gave students the financial opportunity to further their education globally for a year. It was highly selective. The entire process took three months.”

When she received the news that she had been selected, Carla experienced a variety of emotions. “I was very excited to come to Kansas, but also so scared,” Carla noted. “I had only learned English for five months in Brazil. I wasn’t sure how I was going to communicate with people!”

She adjusted quickly though. “I learned most of my English here in the labs at K-State. After that, I used sticky notes for everything. I put one on the wall that said wall, I put one of the mirror that said mirror, I put one on the chair that said chair. Eventually, I got it.”

Carla completed her junior year at K-State in food science then returned to Brazil to finish the rest of her bachelor’s degree in food science and technology at the Federal University of Santa Maria. She had no idea she would return to Kansas until Dr. Randy Phebus called her one day. “ He asked if I wanted to come back for my master’s degree for the next two years,” Carla mentioned. “So of course, I did.”

Carla focused on antimicrobial interventions to minimize the risk of Escherichia coli in beef and did most of her master’s research in the Biosecurity Research Institute (BRI) and at the Food Safety and Defense Laboratory at K-State working under Dr. Phebu’s supervision. She has returned to K-State to continue working on her PhD in Food Science. She is currently researching Shiga toxin-producing E. coli as part of a 25 million dollar STEC CAP USDA project. Carla works under Dr. Phebus as he is a key investigator in the project. The rest of her PhD research will be under Dr. Jessie Vipham, Assistant Professor in animal science and industry at K-State. “Dr. Vipham has given me the opportunity to work with her in Ethiopia. One of the goals of this project is to develop a basic food safety training program that focuses on meat safety. Additionally, I’ll be collaborating in the development of a food safety master’s program in Ethiopia.”

Although Carla is very excited to study abroad yet again, she is equally thrilled to soak in another year back at K-State. “I love the environment here,” said Carla. “I’ve been to many universities in the United States and K-State is by far the most welcoming. There is an overwhelming sense of help and generosity here; it really helped me when I first got here and didn’t know English very well.”

We are very excited to welcome Carla back for the third time, and we look forward to all the brilliant things she will do this year in her research as well as next year while she works in Ethiopia.

On Friday, August 25 our students were given the opportunity to dip their toes into the vast waters of the food science industry when the Kansas City Section Institute of Food Technologists (KC-IFT) hosted a networking and scholarship event here in Manhattan, KS..

As one of 53 regional sections of the IFT organization, KC-IFT serves as a major source for food industry opportunities. With over 17,000 members, KC-IFT represents all areas of work in the food industry such as manufacturing, retail/consumer goods, research and product development, process engineering and more. The organization strives to link industry professionals with academic personnel in order to stimulate growth and development in food technology.

Students, faculty and IFT members were invited to attend a presentation and tour by the American Institute of Baking International (AIB) as well to a scholarship awards dinner and social networking event at the K-State Alumni Center. Industry guests included businesses like Infor, Cereal Ingredients, Kerry Ingredients, Ardent Mills, Richardson Milling, Bunting Magnetics as well as numerous other local companies. Students were given the opportunity to visit with the members of these companies over a nice meal catered by Coco Bolos.

Following dinner, KC-IFT president, Carmelo Marafioti announced the undergraduate and graduate student scholarship recipients. A big congratulation goes out to Janelle Debus and Karthik Pandalaneni. Janelle is a junior studying nutrition and kinesiology. She hopes to attend physical therapy school after she graduates, but is still in the process of finding a school that is suitable for her. Karthik is a PhD student in food science. He has attended K-State for three and a half years and is currently researching dairy processing; his major professor is Dr. Amamcharla. Both students demonstrated their merit with impressive academic achievements and outstanding personal resumes. We are eager to see who will win this scholarship again next year.

“We hope to host more KC-IFT events in the future,” said Marafioti. KC-IFT recently welcomed Dr. Sara Gragg, assistant professor in food science as the new president of the organization. Dr. Gragg’s experience in the food industry makes her an ideal fit for the position; she has traveled extensively presenting on the topic of food safety and studying processes of food safety and microbiology, and she currently works in the Animal Health Corridor at K-State Olathe campus.

We look forward to the next KC-IFT function and can’t wait to hear what Dr. Gragg has in store for the organization. The next KC-IFT meeting is likely to be held in spring 2018.

Dr. Randall Phebus has long had a love for food science. In fact, it all began as he was growing up.

“My mom and dad in Waverly, Tennessee have been in the grocery business for over 50 years, and I began working for them at the age of 14,” said the newly-named Interim Director of the K-State Food Science Institute. “This afforded me the opportunity to learn quite a bit about food marketing, processing hygiene, packaging and labeling, and consumer behaviors and expectations. At the time, I didn’t know that all of these things are basically defined as ‘food science,’ but I knew it was interesting to me.”

In 1981, he enrolled at the University of Tennessee (UT) as an Animal Science major, with the goal of applying to UT’s College of Veterinary Medicine. A chance meeting with a faculty member in food science, however, changed Phebus’ path for the better.

“A faculty member talked to me and convinced me that the career opportunities I would have as a food science major would be great,” said Phebus. “I decided to pursue a Master’s degree in food science focusing on food safety. I also loved college and was afforded the opportunity to work as a Teaching Assistant in several food science courses at UT while in graduate school. I developed a passion for working with students, and ultimately decided to become a professor.”

There are many aspects of teaching that make the field so rewarding, but Phebus singles out two in particular. “First, I genuinely enjoy working with young people who are curious and excited about science, and I think the field of food science is unparalleled for providing opportunities to integrate multiple scientific disciplines to generate applied solutions that can impact almost everyone in the world,” said Phebus. “Secondly, I myself am a science nerd. As a professor teaching food science, I have to study daily to stay abreast of the rapid advances occurring in technology, public health, and food manufacturing. Yes, I like to study science.”

In 2013, won the Elmer Marth Educator Award through the International Association for Food Protection. He cites it as a favorite teaching moment, thanks in part to those involved in making it all happen. “My former students put most of the nomination package together for selection committee evaluation, and a panel of my peers in food safety with many years of teaching at universities around the world made the determination,” said Phebus.

According to Phebus, K-State is a special place. “Within the College of Agriculture, the feelings of family and community are very apparent,” said Phebus. “I also enjoy K-State because of the broad diversity of interdisciplinary opportunities for students and faculty that exist across the campus targeting almost all elements of the complex global food system. I don’t think another university in the country can claim such a broad and in-depth approach to understanding and improving the whole food system.”

As someone who has studied food science for years, his opinion might be biased, but he encourages incoming students to look into the field. “There’s no better major in my opinion, if you would like to have a dynamic career in either a STEM discipline or some element of business,” said Phebus. “Think about it. By getting a food science undergraduate or graduate degree you can be a chemist, microbiologist, product developer, lawyer, regulator, engineer, procurement officer, marketer, writer or even a professor! Then you can go work in one of the biggest and most secure industries in the world doing great things to improve the lives of people.”

It is with sincere gratitude and humbleness, and simultaneous excitement and determination, that I begin working as the Interim Director of the Food Science Institute (FSI). I know that everyone associated with the FSI has the goal of making the K-State food science program the best in the land, and I look forward to working with everyone, including our wonderful alumni, to continue to improve our program and the impact the Institute has on our students and stakeholders. First, I want to recognize and thank Dr. Curtis Kastner for the 15 years he spent as the FSI’s founding director. His passion for students and the development of FSI programs was phenomenal, and provided a very solid foundation for our future. He’s now officially an Emeritus professor and has assured me that he will continue to support our FSI efforts. Thanks also to Dr. Ken Odde and Elsa Toburen for taking care of the FSI shop over the past several months. Elsa is a “rock star” in the way she oversees and coordinates our business office activities.

We have very important business to accomplish for the FSI, and particularly for the undergraduate program. This includes a continued reevaluation of our B.S. curriculum (course offerings, course content, and scheduling and sequencing), and thanks to Dr. Karen Schmidt for her strong leadership to this initiative. Dr. Abbey Nutsch is bringing a new level of scrutiny to our formal food science program assessment activities, both undergraduate and graduate, and we will continue to look for ways to effectively utilize this assessment information to improve our academic programs. We are focusing a high level of attention to undergraduate student recruitment, and the recruitment committee is energetically initiating a campaign to draw the brightest students possible into our Science and Operations Management (Business) options. There are no better majors than Food Science & Industry here at K-State, and we must get the word out across Kansas, the region and even the nation!

In an interim position, you never know how much time you have to accomplish your goals; however, I’m asking everyone involved with the FSI to help me accomplish positive things for our food science program. Priorities for me include increasing interactions with industry stakeholders, increasing the number of student opportunities (eg., internships and scholarships, international experiences), having more productive engagement with our K-State Olathe colleagues and programs, synergizing with the K-State Global Food System Initiative for mutual benefit, and increasing Food Science student numbers. Please let me know when you have needs and/or ideas in which the FSI can assist, and students and faculty/staff, have a great Fall 2017 semester!

A connection program between two cities over 6,000 miles apart made its way to the Food Science Institute last week.

The City of Abilene’s Abilene-Omitama Sister City Board hosted the 16th delegation from Japan. 20 delegates from Omitama had arrived, 16 students and four adults.

The exchange takes place every year. The Japanese guests visit Abilene in odd years and Abilene sends a delegation to Japan in even years.

“The Sister City relationship developed from Japanese interns coming to the Harold Scanlan dairy farm to learn about U.S. dairy operations,” according to the Abilene RC. “In 1984, an agreement to form a Sister City relationship between Abilene and Minori, Japan, was signed. Since that time, adult and student delegations have made annual visits to each other’s towns.”

“The Sister City Committee has identified student exchanges/youth friendships, daily life experience and cultural experience as the main emphasis of the program.”

On Friday, the middle school students visited FSI to learn about food science. Dr. Fadi Aramouini and Dr. Kelly Getty, with the assistance of various food science students, provided a hands on experience for the visiting students.

This included teaching the students how to make chocolate chip cookies, learning about nutrition labels and the different kinds of American foods.

We hope these students enjoyed their stay and continue to learn more about exciting food science field!

Originally from Monument, CO, Morgan Wolfe was drawn to K-State from the very beginning. “I wore purple from the day I was born,” said Morgan. “I came to K-State because it’s where both my parents went to school and fell in love. I just always kind of knew it was my calling.”

This fall, Morgan will return to K-State to begin a new role. She will be joining the FSI team as the new Social Media and E-Newsletter Writer, and we couldn’t be happier to have her join us!

Morgan has had quite the busy summer juggling two jobs, the first with Momentum Advertising and PR. “I am responsible for doing all the PR and marketing work for a new neighborhood development called Banning Lewis Ranch,” said Morgan. “I write articles, work on quarterly magazines, coordinate concerts and special events, work with home-builders to promote their companies too, and have learned a lot about media buying as well.”

Her second summer job at Olson Plumbing and Heating has also provided valuable experience. “So far here I have written and developed the new summer commercial, done web-writing for the website, designed new business cards, infographics, and proposal documents, and put together promotional swag items for trade events,” said Morgan.

These work experiences have taught her a lot about her intended field. “Both jobs have helped me network tremendously,” said Morgan. “I’m really excited to graduate and begin a career soon.”

It’s a career she knows she’ll enjoy. “I like that public relations is so face-paced and people-oriented,” said Morgan. “Everything has deadlines, dates, and priorities to meet; and I’m constantly interacting with people, which makes the job way more fun.”

She’s hoping to bring the skills she developed and her excitement for the profession to the Food Science Institute. “I hope to get FSI noticed more around K-State and Manhattan, whether that be incorporating SnapChat, radio ads, or hosting special events for FSI around town,” said Morgan.

When she’s not working hard in her jobs or her classes, Morgan enjoys taking time for her various creative outlets; drawing caricatures of people or fun DIY projects. And of course, hanging out with her pet tarantula.

Morgan officially joins the FSI team August 20th! We’re thrilled to welcome her to the team, and she can’t wait to join it. “I’m super excited to join the FSI team and help promote the program,” said Morgan. “Not to mention also looking forward to taste testing all the FSI concoctions that will be created in the next year!”